That’s one of the nicer things we call moving. Our household’s recent move has been a journey into disorganization, disorientation and general discord. A genuine necessary evil. More than once during recent weeks, we vowed to never move again —…
VITAL SIGNS: Clergy and grief
A friend and I were talking a few weeks ago and she made the following statement: One of the hardest parts of long-term ministry is burying your friends. I buried a dear friend on Monday. It was all I could…
VITAL SIGNS: Ready for a vocabulary lesson?
Stagnant. Boring. Aimless. Tired. Tepid. What do these words describe? You? Your minister? Your church? Your Sunday school class? Your career? All too often, I hear ministers and parishioners alike using such words to describe all of the above. Far…
VIRAL SIGNS: It goes without saying
Have you learned that nothing “goes without saying” anymore? That sobering truth runs counter to our tendency to think there are some universally shared assumptions that all of us agree upon. We may think that everyone agrees with us about…
VITAL SIGNS: Discomfort: Good or bad?
Here at the Center for Congregational Health, we spend many hours each week helping clergy and congregations navigate the tricky waters of expectations and living together in positive and encouraging relationships rather than confrontational ones. I’ve recently had three insights…
VITAL SIGNS: Seven things church members wish their ministers knew, but are afraid to tell them
After I shared with a group of laity what clergy are thinking, in the interest of fairness I asked them what they wish their ministers knew, but that they are afraid to share with them out of respect or fear…
VITAL SIGNS: Seven things your pastor wishes you knew, but is afraid to tell you
The transition out of local church pastoral and staff ministry after 33 years on the job is proving to be a provocative, illuminating and sobering experience. Sitting on the receiving side of the pulpit is a very different way to…
VITAL SIGNS: The prophetic pastor
One of the most precarious tasks a preacher faces is that of being a prophet. The role of prophet is one that many ministers feel a deep ambivalence toward. All preachers know that relevant preaching must address the great issues…
VITAL SIGNS: What do you lie to yourself about?
My seminary-student son recently told me about a website called soulpancake.com. Specifically, he mentioned a thread of responses to the question “What do you lie to yourself about?” When I went to the site and began to read the anonymous…